Air-sprung vehicle seat

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to an air-sprung vehicle seat, including an air supply line having a supply part and an end part. Provision is made, according to the invention, whereby there is disposed between the supply part and the end part a branch part, from which there extends a connection line having an air connector at its end that is located away from the branch, and a shut-off valve is disposed in one of the branch part, the connection line, or the air connector.

PRIORITY BENEFIT TO RELATED APPLICATION

This is a utility application that claims foreign priority benefits, under 35 USC §119(a) to German Patent Application No. 10 2005 002 992.2, filed 21 Jan. 2005, which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to an air-sprung vehicle seat, comprising an air supply line which has a supply part located away from the spring and has an end part located towards the spring.

In the case of commercial vehicles, compressed-air pistols are particularly suitable for cleaning dirty or dusty vehicle cabins. Most commercial vehicles are equipped with an air supply, which is normally disposed outside the vehicle cabin. Although, in the majority of commercial vehicles, there are air-sprung vehicle seats which, accordingly, also have an air supply, it is nevertheless necessary to connect the compressed-air pistol to the air connector outside the vehicle cabin, and to bring it to the location to be cleaned within the vehicle cabin via the long connection hose. This is very expensive and awkward.

SUMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore the object of the invention to create a simpler connection to the air supply system within a commercial vehicle, to which a compressed-air pistol can be connected.

The object is achieved by an air-sprung vehicle seat having the features of claim 1. Since an air supply line is always provided in an air-sprung vehicle seat, it is possible to effect simple branching-off of a required quantity of air in order to supply also a compressed-air pistol within the vehicle cabin. For this, provision is made, according to the invention, whereby a branch part is disposed between the supply part and the end part. This branch part branches off the required quantity of air from the air supply line, via the connection line. Since the connection line has an air connector at its end that is located away from the branch, a compressed-air pistol can be connected thereto, via a connection hose. The compressed-air pistol is thus supplied with compressed air via the air supply line that is already provided in the vehicle seat in any case. In order to prevent a continuous, uncontrolled escape of compressed air via the connection line, a shut-off valve is disposed in the branch part, in the connection line or in the air connector. Said shut-off valve is opened when a compressed-air pistol is connected to the air connector and is operated. In this case, the opening of the shut-off valve can be effected automatically or separately. Since the opening of the shut-off valve is not essential for the invention and can be effected by all known methods, it is not described further in the following.

An advantageous development of the invention makes provision whereby the branch part is a T-piece. This constitutes a very simple means of achieving a branching-off of compressed air between the supply part and the end part.

Another advantageous development of the invention makes provision whereby the branch part is a 3-way valve which can be actuated from outside the vehicle seat. By simple means, therefore, branching-off of compressed air can only be effected if so desired by an operator from the outside.

A further advantageous development of the invention makes provision whereby the air connector is mounted on the vehicle seat or on a seat substructure disposed beneath said vehicle seat. The air connector is thus fixed in position, and the connection line does not lie around in the vehicle cabin. It is particularly preferred that the air connector be integrated into the seat substructure. Since the latter is normally hollow, the connection line can very easily be routed within the seat substructure. Moreover, it is not necessary to draw the connection line into the vehicle seat, in which space is very restricted.

A further advantageous development of the invention makes provision whereby a storage space for a compressed-air pistol and a connection hose is realized in the seat substructure. This provides for rapid access to, and defined storage of, the compressed-air pistol together with a necessary connection hose.

A further advantageous development of the invention makes provision whereby the compressed-air pistol is connected to the air connector via the connection hose. Since the compressed-air pistol is permanently connected to the connection line, it need no longer be connected for operation, but is always immediately ready for operation, and is nevertheless securely stored when not in use.

Further advantageous developments of the invention are explained more fully with reference to the embodiment represented in the sole FIGURE. This sole

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 shows a schematic, partially open view of a seat substructure of a vehicle seat according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The embodiment of an air-sprung vehicle seat according to the invention, having a seat substructure 1, is shown without the vehicle seat. The air-sprung vehicle seat is attached above the seat substructure 1, shown in a partially open view. The connection of a conventional air-sprung vehicle seat is known in principle and is not essential for the invention, and is consequently not described further.

The air-sprung vehicle seat is supplied with the required compressed air via an air supply line 2, which consists of a plurality of portions. The air supply line 2 enters the seat substructure 1 though an opening in the cabin floor 10. The part of the air supply line 2 that is connected to the supply tank is termed the supply part 3. The portion of the air supply line 2 that is connected to the air-sprung vehicle seat is termed the end part 4. Disposed between the supply part 3 and the end part 4 is a branch part 5, in the form of a T-piece 9.

In the embodiment represented, the branch part 5 is a separate part, but it is equally possible for the branch part 5 to be realized as a single piece with the supply part 3 and/or with the end part 4.

From the T-piece 9, a connection line 6 branches off from the air supply line 2. Said connection line 6 is routed through an opening in the wall of the seat substructure 1, and terminates, outside the seat substructure 1, with an air connector 7. The connection line 6 is fixed in position within the hole in the wall of is the seat substructure 1 by means of a fastening 8.

Disposed in the air connector 7 is a shut-off valve which opens automatically when a connection hose having a matching coupling is attached to it. If a matching coupling is not attached to it, the shut-off valve remains closed. The shut-off valve serves to prevent a continuous and uncontrolled escape of compressed air from the air supply line 2. Instead of the automatic shut-off valve within the air connector 7, there may also be provided at this location a shut-off valve which is not opened automatically when a connection hose is mounted, but must additionally be opened by the operator. Furthermore, the shut-off valve may also be disposed within the branch part 5 or at any location within the connection line 6.

The arrangement according to the invention makes it very easy to clean the vehicle cabin using a compressed-air pistol, since the compressed-air supply that is provided in any case for the air-sprung vehicle seat can be used, via the air supply line 2, to provide an air connector 7 within the vehicle cabin. There is therefore no longer any need for an awkward compressed-air supply structure, with long connection hoses, from outside the vehicle cabin to the compressed-air pistol required for cleaning. 

1. An air-sprung vehicle seat comprising: an air supply line having a supply part and has an end part; a branch part disposed between the supply part and the end part, from which there extends a connection line having an air connector at one end that is located away from the branch; and a shut-off valve disposed in one of the branch part, the connection line, or the air connector.
 2. Air-sprung vehicle seat according to claim 1, characterized in that the branch part is a T-piece.
 3. Air-sprung vehicle seat according to claim 1, characterized in that the branch part is a 3-way valve which can be actuated away from the vehicle seat.
 4. Air-sprung vehicle seat according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the air connector is mounted on one of the vehicle seat or a seat substructure disposed beneath the vehicle seat.
 5. Air-sprung vehicle seat according to claim 4, characterized in that the air connector is integrated into the seat substructure.
 6. Air-sprung vehicle seat according to claim 4, characterized in that a storage space for a compressed-air pistol and a connection hose is defined by the seat substructure.
 7. Air-sprung vehicle seat according to claim 5, characterized in that a storage space for a compressed-air pistol and a connection hose is defined by the seat substructure.
 8. Air-sprung vehicle seat according to claim 6, characterized in that the compressed-air pistol is connected to the air connector via the connection hose.
 9. Air-sprung vehicle seat according to claim 7, characterized in that the compressed-air pistol is connected to the air connector via the connection hose. 